1994-01-20 Work Session
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
WORK SESSION, JANUARY 20, 1994
BOOK 23
PAGE 918
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners held a Work
Session on Thursday, January 20, 1994, at 10:30 A.M. in the 5th
Floor Conference Room of the County Administration Building, 320
Chestnut Street, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present were: Commissioners Sandra Barone; WilliamA.
Caster; William E. Sisson, Jr.; vice-Chairman E. L. Mathews, Jr.;
Chairman Robert G. Greer; County Manager, Allen 0' Neal; County
Attorney, Wanda M. Copley; and Clerk to the Board, Lucie F.
Harrell.
Chairman Greer called the Work Session to order for the
purpose of discussing residential and commercial collections in the
unincorporated area of New Hanover County.
DISCUSSION OF RESIDENTIAL COLLECTIONS IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF
NEW HANOVER COUNTY
Chairman Greer reported after the last Work Session members of
staff and the haulers have met and developed the following concept
for residential collection in the County's unincorporated area. It
is hoped that this plan can be implemented with additional services
at no extra charge to the customer:
(1) The County will contract with haulers currently providing
service to the unincorporated area and assign zones to each
hauler to eliminate inefficiencies associated with overlapping
routes.
(2) The haulers will collect refuse and they or their
subcontractors will collect recyclables, yard waste, and bulky
items.
(3) The County will negotiate the cost of the system with the
haulers. The County or its subcontractor will be responsible
for billing customers for collection and disposal costs.
(4) Residential subscription will be voluntary.
Commissioner Sisson reported the Director of Emergency
Management, Dan Summers, has expressed concern about the disposal
of household hazardous waste and feels a plan should be developed
for this type of disposal.
Director Environmental Management, Ray Church, reported the
disposal of household hazardous waste is not handled by the
haulers. Most local governments have established a plan where
certain dates are established to collect household hazardous waste
once or twice a year. The local government can operate the program
or contract with a private firm who is knowledgeable in the
handling and disposal of hazardous materials. While attending the
FEMA Workshop in Emitsburg, Maryland, emphasis was placed on the
amount of household hazardous waste generated during a hurricane
with disposal of batteries and materials stored in garages, and the
local officials were informed that if a plan is in place, FEMA will
reimburse local governments for recovery costs relative to disposal
of hazardous materials. In his opinion, New Hanover County should
develop a plan.
Discussion was held on how to control littering or illegal
dumping of trash with a voluntary system. Commissioner Sisson
recommended increasing the penalty for littering or illegal dumping
and hiring enough personnel to enforce the Litter Ordinance.
After discussion of the need to have sworn officers enforcing
the Litter Ordinance, staff was requested to work with the Sheriff
in assessing the current number of sworn officers that could assist
with enforcement of the Litter Ordinance and prepare a
recommendation to be presented to the Board. Also, the County
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
WORK SESSION, JANUARY 20, 1994
BOOK 23
PAGE 919
Attorney was requested to prepare a recommendation
the penalty for illegal dumping or littering.
for increasing
Discussion was held on the monthly charge to residential
customers. Commissioner Caster emphasized the importance of the
monthly charge being the same for each customer and inquired as to
how this will be accomplished?
Assistant County
uniform fee can be
haulers.
Manager, Dave Weaver, responded that a
established through negotiation with the
Discussion was held on re-evaluating and redrawing zones as
the population changes in the County. County Manager 0' Neal
recommended negotiating contracts that will establish a time frame
for re-evaluating zones at the end of the second year with the idea
of establishing a new zone at the end of the third year.
DISCUSSION OF COMMERCIAL COLLECTIONS
Chairman Greer reported commercial collections represent 70%
of the solid waste stream and the following system has been
recommended:
1) The County will contract with the haulers to perform
commercial collections. Contracts will be non-exclusive and
free competition between haulers will act to hold collection
costs down.
2) The haulers will bill for the collection costs. The
County will bill for disposal costs.
3) The County's contract will require the haulers to mail the
County's disposal bill, thus avoiding unnecessary duplication
and reducing the County's administrative costs.
Commissioner Barone expressed concern for commercial customers
being required to write and mail two checks and recommended the
possibility of allowing the haulers to collect for disposal costs
with the County billing the haulers for reimbursement.
Mr. Chris McKeithan, President of Waste Management, Inc.,
reported ln order to eliminate confusion for the commercial
accounts, two separate invoices with two separate envelopes could
be mailed.
Discussion was held on the possibility of one check being
wri tten to the County or the hauler. County Manager 0' Neal
reported computer software will be developed that will allow the
County and hauler to know if this occurs through daily monitoring.
Commissioner Caster inquired as to how the County's portion of
the bill will be determined?
Mr. McKeithan reported the commercial customer is billed for
the frequency of pick-up and for the size of the container at an
established weight. If the container is only half full, the weight
does not vary and the fee is the same.
Discussion was held on adoption of an ordinance prohibiting
construction debris from being co-mingled with other trash. It was
generally agreed that an ordinance of this type should be adopted
to avoid problems for the haulers when picking up mixed loads;
reduce maintenance costs at WASTEC; and greatly assist the County
in meeting the 25% reduction of the waste stream with utilization
of the Construction and Debris Center.
Commissioner
unburnable wastes,
Sisson commented on the disposal of other
such as plastics, cardboard, and glass by
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
WORK SESSION, JANUARY 20, 1994
BOOK 23
PAGE 920
restaurants who do not want to combine these items and inquired as
to how these items can be handled?
Mr. McKeithan reported restaurants or other businesses could
request a recycling bin at an additional fee.
Discussion was held on individuals and businesses that perform
their own waste disposal. Commissioner Sisson recommended
requiring these companies to contract with the County if they want
to expand their disposal service and compete with the local
haulers. If a contract is not negotiated with the County, a stiff
penalty should be assessed.
Discussion was held on the burning of trees, stumps, and
debris when clearing a site before construction. Commissioner
Sisson recommended addressing this type of burning at a future
date.
Commissioner Sisson expressed concern for increasing the
customer's cost in the City and inquired as to how the tip fee will
be set for municipalities?
Assistant County Manager Weaver reported the tip fee will be
set at $79 per ton for the municipalities, which is the same tip
fee that will be set for County residents under this system.
After further discussion, staff was directed to proceed with
the recommendations presented for residential and commercial
collections with the final figures being prepared and submitted to
the Board.
BUDGET WORK SESSION AND JOINT WORK SESSION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 3, 1994
Consensus: It was the consensus of the Board to schedule a Work
Session with the Board of Social Services on February 3, 1994, at
9:00 A.M. in the Senior Center followed by a Staff Meeting and
Budget Work Session at 10:00 A.M.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Sisson reported on hearing compliments about how
courteous and helpful the County employees are when using the
recycling drop-off centers. He expressed appreciation to Recycling
Manager, Tim Cole, and staff for providing this type of service to
the citizens of the County.
Chairman Greer, on behalf of the Board, expressed appreciation
to staff and the haulers for the hard work and effort given to
prepare options for establishing residential and commercial
collection systems.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 A.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Lucie F. Harrell
Clerk to the Board